Gearing up for cycling challenge (From Watford Observer)

Family and friends of Tim Roney from Sarratt and Karen Puddifoot from Northwood gearing up for cycling challenge

5:20pm Wednesday 16th February 2011 in News By Michael Pickard

Family and friends of two cyclists who died on an around-the-world adventure will climb onto their bikes to continue their fundraising challenge.

Tim Roney, from Sarratt, and Karen Puddifoot, from Northwood, tragically drowned when a boat they were aboard capsized in Halong Bay, off the coast of Vietnam in September 2009.

Alongside Karen's brother Chris, who died in a car crash in November 2009, they had previously pedalled across Europe before travelling to Asia for the second leg of their trip and planned to continue onto Australia and New Zealand.

Throughout their challenge, they were raising money for the British Lung Foundation (BLF) in memory of a school friend who died from a pulmonary embolism in 2007.

Tim's brother Simon, Karen and Chris' father Michael, and Tim's friends Daniel Greaves and Mark Pellowe will now continue fundraising in their memory by cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in May this year.

They will take just 12 days to complete the 1,000 mile route and hope to raise more than £12,000 for the BLF.

Simon, 25, from The Briar, Sarratt, has previously cycled from London to Brighton but said the group wanted to find the toughest challenge possible.

In training, the group cover more than 75 miles through the Chilterns as they prepare for the event, which will see them ride about 90 miles each day.

Simon said: “I'm feeling good about it. I have not yet tried riding that distance on consecutive days but if I ride in the evening and get up and ride to work, I don't feel like I don't want to get on the bike.

“I'm really looking forward to it and seeing some of the countryside. As a group, it really does mean a lot to us to do something together. On our own we might struggle but together we have got a really good bond.”

Friends of Tim and Karen have already completed challenges to raise money for the BLF, including 10km runs, and hosting an art exhibition.

And Simon, who was to cycle with the pair across New Zealand, said he wanted to do something himself to support the charity.

“I wanted to do something,” he said. “We all thought about the London to Paris bike ride but it wasn't really enough of a challenge. It's only 300 miles so we decided this would be the event we wanted to do.

“It's the biggest and best ride you can do in the UK so we thought we would start at the top.

“It's a good challenge. We will really enjoy it. If Tim had the chance to pick something in this country, he would pick the hardest event possible so we felt we would do the same thing.”

Simon added that the group now hope to complete a challenge every year, with thoughts already turning towards the 24-hour London to Paris bike ride next year.

He also said he still hoped to travel to New Zealand and cycle across both islands as he had planned to do with Tim and Karen.

Cycleopedia, the bike shop where Simon works, and Tim spent five years as an employee, in Merton Road, Watford, is also holding a raffle to raise more money for the charity.

Tickets cost £2 each and first prize is a Sirrus Sport bike worth £450.

The draw will be made on April 30.

To make a donation towards the cycle challenge, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/thejourneycontinues.